People tell me CONSTANTLY that they believe in SEL, just don’t have time for another program or curricular initiative. Most teachers aren’t skipping SEL because they don’t value it, but the day is already packed....
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Here is the honest truth about “self-regulation.” Children do not flip an internal switch and suddenly calm down because we told them to (unfortunately – ha). In early and middle childhood, regulation develops through co-regulation,...
Read MoreIf you’ve ever sat in a PD session about motivation or behavior, you’ve probably seen the pyramid. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is everywhere! The color-coded layers stacked neatly from “basic needs” at the bottom to...
Read MoreSomething powerful happens when play shows up in a classroom. The mood shifts. Students relax, start talking, and connect in ways that don’t always happen during a typical lesson. When we lead with curiosity and...
Read MoreWhen a student has a parent or family member who’s incarcerated, the emotional ripple effect can be huge. As teachers, we might not always know what’s happening at home, but we can usually feel it,...
Read MoreIf you’ve ever caught yourself humming while tidying up, driving, or grading papers, you’ve probably noticed something. It feels good. You might not realize it, but that tiny act of humming is actually a built-in...
Read MoreIf you’ve been in the classroom long enough, you’ve probably encountered a moment where a student’s sense of entitlement makes your head spin. Maybe it’s a child who insists on a different set of rules...
Read MoreThis post includes affiliate links. If you’ve been teaching for more than five minutes, you’ve probably heard some version of this message: “Good teachers give it all.” Stay late. Spend your own money. Answer emails...
Read MoreThis post contains affiliate links. One of my favorite parts of being an educator is learning together. We don’t just grow from PD sessions or staff meetings—we grow when we sit down with other teachers,...
Read MoreThere really is a line between caring deeply for your students and carrying their struggles home. However, it can get real blurry, real fast. We don’t just teach math, reading, or science. We teach kids...
Read MoreThis post contains affiliate links. If you’ve been in the classroom longer than a week, chances are you’ve heard it: “I hate school.” Maybe it’s whispered under the breath after a rough math lesson. Sometimes...
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